Louis-Ferdinand Céline quotes

Louis-Ferdinand Céline was a French novelist and physician, renowned for his innovative literary style and controversial views. His works, including "Journey to the End of the Night," profoundly influenced modern literature with their raw language and bleak outlook. He remains one of the most debated figures in twentieth-century French literature. Here are 96 of his quotes:

We've no use for intellectuals in this outfit. What we need is chimpanzees. Let me give you a word of advice: never say a word to us about being intelligent. We will think for you, my friend. Don't forget it.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

Almost every desire a poor man has is a punishable offence.[16].

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

If you aren't rich you should always look useful.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

To philosophize is only another way of being afraid and leads hardly anywhere but to cowardly make-believe.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

Living, just by itself - what a dirge that is! Life is a classroom and Boredom's the usher, there all the time to spy on you; whatever happens, you've got to look as if you were awfully busy all the time doing something that's terribly exciting - or he'll come along and nibble your brain.[32].

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

I have never voted in my life... I have always known and understood that the idiots are in a majority so it's certain they will win.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

The sadness of the world has different ways of getting to people, but it seems to succeed almost every time.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

I warn you that when the princes of this world start loving you it means they are going to grind you up into battle sausage.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

The biggest defeat in every department of life is to forget, especially the things that have done you in, and to die without realizing how far people can go in the way of crumminess. When the grave lies open before us, let's not try to be witty, but record the worst of human viciousness we've seen without changing one word. When that's done, we can curl up our toes and sink into the pit. That's work enough for a lifetime.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

Philosophizing is simply one way of being afraid, a cowardly pretense that doesn't get you anywhere.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

A man should be resigned to knowing himself a little better each day if he hasn't got the guts to put an end to his sniveling once and for all.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

Troubles are as endless as pleasures are brief.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

Life must go on, even if it's no joke... just pretend to believe in the future.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

In circumstances of real tragedy you see things straight away...past, present, and future together.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

- (Lola): Only mad men and cowards refuse to go to the war, when their homeland is in danger! - (Bardamu): So, hurrah for the mad men and the cowards! ― [6].

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

The three radios, the six cars, the four refrigerators, the seven telephones in each of the 300,000 Jewish households, and the super-television![51].

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

I cannot refrain from doubting that there exist other genuine realizations of our deepest character than war and illness, those two infinities of nightmare.[39].

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

The one who talks about the future is a rascal. The present is the only thing that matters. To invoke one's posterity is to make a speech to maggots. [4].

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

In this society which we are induced to frequent, composed above all of politicians and artists, one cannot realize one's true worth.[99].

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

Love is infinity - come down to poodles'level.[1].

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

Anybody who talks about the future is a bastard, it's the present that counts.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline

A woman who spends her time worrying about pregnancy is a virtual cripple; she'll never go very far.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline